Entry-level job seekers are currently experiencing one of the worst job markets for new hires in more than three decades. But things could be looking up for the Class of 2026 as Texas’s capital city has once again been named one of the best for landing new opportunities post-graduation.
Austin was recently recognized in a Redfin and Glassdoor report ranking the top U.S. cities for recent college graduates in 2026. The Live Music Capital was the only Central Texas city to make the report and one of three Lone Star State cities to land in the top 10 list for big cities.
To determine the rankings, Redfin and Glassdoor broke up American metro areas into three categories: big, medium-sized and small. Each city was analyzed based on factors like its housing affordability, a mix of career opportunities, quality of life and work/life balance for young professionals.
This year, Austin was ranked the No. 10 best city for new college grads. Redfin says that the city offers many entry-level jobs in industries such as healthcare, tech and education. The city’s current “slow housing market” also makes it attractive for young buyers moving in to start their lives in Austin.
According to Redfin, the average early-career earnings for Austinites start at $72,025, while the price of a typical starter home is $ 276,600. This gives buyers 4 years and 1 month to save for a monthly mortgage payment to be 30.3 percent of recent grads’ income at that salary. The monthly rent for that same salary is about 35 percent of a resident’s income.
Austin’s reputation as the Live Music Capital is also a winner for recent grads to enjoy a work/life balance, as the city is home to several music venues and festivals like SXSW and Austin City Limits Music Festival, as well as recreational places like Barton Springs Pool and Lady Bird Lake.
Other big Texas cities that outranked Austin in the Redfin report were Dallas in the No. 4 spot and Houston in the No. 6 spot nationally. As for the rest of the country, Washington, D.C. was ranked the No. 1 big city for recent grads, while Omaha, Nebraska, and Boston took the remaining top second and third spots.